May Discusses Seizure Of Iranian Tanker With Gibraltar's Chief Minister

The Grace 1 tanker anchored off the coast of Gibraltar.

Theresa May has met with Gibraltar's chief minister to discuss the seizure of an Iranian tanker by Royal Marines.

In a statement, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo thanked the Prime Minister for "her support in allowing the Royal Marines to carry out the operation".

The Grace 1 ship was detained off the coast of Gibraltar earlier this month after it was suspected of carrying a cargo of crude oil destined for a Syrian refinery in breach of EU sanctions.

The ship's captain, chief officer and two second officers were arrested and bailed.

The investigation is ongoing.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister stressed the importance of Gibraltar's independent legal process being followed and paid tribute to their efforts to implement EU-Syria sanctions."

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has offered to release Grace 1 in return for guarantees from Iran that it would not breach sanctions on Bashar Assad's regime.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the seizure of Grace 1 an act of "piracy" on Tuesday and told the UK to expect a response. 

Iran's foreign ministry also accused the UK of playing a "dangerous game" that has "consequences".

A week after the Grace 1's seizure, the UK said Iranian patrol boats tried to stop a British tanker as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz last week.

The Ministry of Defence said Royal Navy warship HMS Montrose was forced to intervene and drive the ships off.

The boats involved in the incident were believed to be from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, however, Iran has denied the incident happened.

The Number 10 spokesman added that Mrs May and Mr Picardo also discussed Brexit.

"The Prime Minister reiterated the UK's steadfast commitment to Gibraltar and expressed her confidence that this will continue," the spokesman said.